VOA常速英语2008年-Bush and Putin Meet, No Agreement Expected On M

By Paula Wolfson
Sochi, Russia
05 April 2008

U.S. President George W. Bush is in Russia for his last summit with President Vladimir Putin before the Russian presidency¹ passes to a new leader next month. VOA's Paula Wolfson reports White House officials say there will be some general statement on future relations between the two countries, but no deal on missile defense².

The White House says there is more work to be done before the two sides can reach agreement on U.S. plans to put a missile defense system in central Europe.

Spokeswoman Dana Perino says discussions on the matter between top U.S. and Russian diplomats⁴ are still in the early stages. She says the dialogue is moving in the right direction, and this summit should result in further progress.

Perino spoke³ to reporters aboard Air Force One as the president's plane made its way from Croatia to the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi. She said that while a deal on missile defense is still a ways off, the two leaders are planning to produce what she called a strategic framework. She described it as a list of ideas for their successors on the future of relations between their two countries. She said the goal is a smooth transition that will enable cooperation to continue in key areas.

Missile defense is just one of the issues that needs to be resolved, with the Russians arguing the plan will set off a new arms race. Russia is also vehemently⁵ opposed to the eastward⁶ expansion of NATO to Ukraine and Georgia.

But these differences seemed to be pushed aside as the two leaders and their wives met for a social evening in Sochi - the site of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Before sitting down to dinner at the Russian president's official retreat, they got a briefing on plans for the games.

There was no mention - at least in public - of the just ended NATO summit. But earlier in the day, Mr. Bush reaffirmed his views on expanding the alliance in a speech in the Croatian capital, Zagreb. He said the alliance is open to all countries in the region. "With the changes underway in this region, Europe stands on the threshold of a new and hopeful history. The ancient and costly⁷ rivalries⁸ that led to two world wars have fallen away. We've seen the burning desire for freedom melt even the Iron Curtain," he said.

 

Mr. Bush spoke in a square that has been the center of political life in Croatia for hundreds of years - in good times and bad. "The great church in this square has stood since the Middle Ages. Over the centuries it has seen long dark winters of occupation and tyranny and war. But the spring is here at last," he said.

Croatia was one of three Balkan countries deemed by NATO leaders to meet the criteria⁹ for membership. Two - Croatia and Albania - are beginning the admission process immediately. The third - Macedonia - must wait until it settles a name dispute with its neighbor, Greece.

Leaders of all three countries were on hand in Zagreb for the celebration. As they looked on, President Bush made a vow¹⁰. "Henceforth, should any danger threaten your people, America and the NATO alliance will stand with you. And no one will be able to take your freedom away," he said.

He noted¹¹ that Croatia, Albania and Macedonia have all deployed¹² troops to Afghanistan, and Macedonian and Albanian forces have served in Iraq. He said as countries that have experienced life under repression¹³, they are serving as an example to others.

1 presidency   

n.总统(校长，总经理)的职位(任期)

参考例句：

• Roosevelt was elected four times to the presidency of the United States.罗斯福连续当选四届美国总统。
• Two candidates are emerging as contestants for the presidency.两位候选人最终成为总统职位竞争者。

2 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

3 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

4 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 vehemently   

adv. 热烈地

参考例句：

• He argued with his wife so vehemently that he talked himself hoarse. 他和妻子争论得很激烈，以致讲话的声音都嘶哑了。
• Both women vehemently deny the charges against them. 两名妇女都激烈地否认了对她们的指控。

6 eastward   

adv.向东；adj.向东的；n.东方，东部

参考例句：

• The river here tends eastward.这条河从这里向东流。
• The crowd is heading eastward,believing that they can find gold there.人群正在向东移去，他们认为在那里可以找到黄金。

7 costly   

adj.昂贵的，价值高的，豪华的

参考例句：

• It must be very costly to keep up a house like this.维修这么一幢房子一定很昂贵。
• This dictionary is very useful,only it is a bit costly.这本词典很有用，左不过贵了些。

8 rivalries   

n.敌对，竞争，对抗( rivalry的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The new government was torn by rivalries. 新政府由于各派对立而四分五裂。 来自辞典例句
• Rivalries could bring about pain and hatred or give rise to fighting. 竞争会带来痛苦、仇恨，或者引起争斗。 来自互联网

9 criteria   

n.标准

参考例句：

• The main criterion is value for money.主要的标准是钱要用得划算。
• There are strict criteria for inclusion in the competition.参赛的标准很严格。

10 vow   

n.誓(言)，誓约；v.起誓，立誓

参考例句：

• My parents are under a vow to go to church every Sunday.我父母许愿，每星期日都去做礼拜。
• I am under a vow to drink no wine.我已立誓戒酒。

11 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

12 deployed   

（尤指军事行动）使展开( deploy的过去式和过去分词 )； 施展； 部署； 有效地利用

参考例句：

• Tanks have been deployed all along the front line. 沿整个前线已部署了坦克。
• The artillery was deployed to bear on the fort. 火炮是对着那个碉堡部署的。

13 repression   

n.镇压，抑制，抑压

参考例句：

• The repression of your true feelings is harmful to your health.压抑你的真实感情有害健康。
• This touched off a new storm against violent repression.这引起了反对暴力镇压的新风暴。